4 years laterâ¦
Yiyoung scrubbed her hands, making sure to wash them multiple times before taking out a hand cream and massaging it into her hands.
âGoing home?â someone asked.
Yiyoung raised her head to find Jaehee, and greeted her with a smile. âYeah.â
âYou worked hard today.â
âHave a good night, Jaehee.â
After switching shifts with her, Yiyoung grabbed her and left the hospital. It was busy, filled with patients and their guardians from all over the country. It was a place that contained peopleâs joy and sorrow, but it always provided the patients with hope.
When Yiyoung stepped out, the bright sun peeked through the leaves, the sunlight hugging their green. A smile automatically bloomed on her, and she started walking faster. It was always a joy to see her child. Just imagining Jiyoon call her âmomâ with that innocent laughter lacing her pure voice made Yiyoung laugh.
Yiyoung earnestly walked toward the childcare center on the hospital grounds. Right after Muyeol found out that Yiyoung was pregnant, he upgraded the hospitalâs employee welfare system, his eyes now able to see things he couldnât before.
S hospital and all the companies under the S Corporation were known as peopleâs dream workplace now. Things couldnât be perfect in this world, but the employees always looked forward to a better future brought about by the person who always tried to fill in the gaps.
Yiyoung reached the childcare center and pressed a bell.
âHello,â greeted a voice.
âHi, teacher. This is Jiyoonâs mother.â
âWelcome, doctor.â
The door opened, and Yiyoung headed inside so quickly that it seemed like she was flying. After a momentâs worth of waiting, she heard Jiyoonâs voice.
âMommy!â
Yiyoung quickly crouched, hugging Jiyoon as she ran into her embrace. Yiyoung could feel the warmth of the same green-tinted sunlight on Jiyoon. She kissed her child on the head and lifted her with one arm.
âJiyoon had a good lunch today,â said the teacher, âShe finished it all, and didnât even leave the carrots.â
Yiyoung widened her eyes on purpose. âReally? She finished her lunch?â
âYes, doctor.â
Jiyoon put both her hands on Yiyoungâs cheeks and turned her head toward her. âThe carrots were too mushy! I didnât like it, but I still ate all of it.â
âYou did?â
âYeah! But next time, I donât want to eat them. Because this time I had them all, next time, I donât want to. Daddy said I can do that!â
Yiyoung laughed and loudly kissed her daughterâs lovely cheek.
âYeah, you donât have to force yourself to eat something you donât like. But Jiyoon⦠Wouldnât there be a reason as to why mommy keeps giving you carrots to eat?â Muyeol had tried to explain to Jiyoon.
And it was then when Jiyoon came up with the idea that if she ate something she didnât like one day, she didnât have to eat it the next day.
âThank you for today, teacher,â said Yiyoung.
âNot a problem.â
âThen, Iâll see you tomorrow.â
âTeacher, I will see you tomorrow!â Jiyoon said loudly.
Yiyoung left the childcare center with Jiyoon in her arms. âWhat do you want to do when we get home?â
âOrigami!â
âMommy isnât really good at that.â
âI will teach you.â
âReally?â
âYeah. Today, I didâ¦â
The mother and daughter kept chatting, their heads resting against each other as Yiyoung walked.
As they neared the cars, Jiyoon suddenly shouted, âDaddy!â
âWhat? Daddy?â Yiyoung sputtered. Muyeol was on a business trip, and he was only supposed to have arrived tonight!
âDaddy!â
âJiyoon!â It really was Muyeol. He looked wild, a beard growing on his face from being unable to shave on the trip.